These musicians first came together in 1981. Plunging into a fast flowing, diverse musical experience, The Rivertown String Band plays a large variety of tempos. The range can vary from old time barn dance tunes, European folk melodies, Celtic and American historical songs to a splash of more contemporary folk music. Our music features a wide variety of instruments including mandolin, fiddle, upright bass, guitar, hammered dulcimer, autoharp, penny whistle and mountain dulcimer.

Jenni Wallace – Has played with Rivertown String Band since 1984. Jenni’s interest and earliest exposure

to homemade music came from family

gatherings and her Great-Grandmother at the piano. She came under the spell of old-time and bluegrass music in the early 1970s and began acquiring a variety of instruments. Guitar came first, but mountain dulcimer, banjo and fiddle soon followed. She has played as a duo with Kathy as Wallace & Wood. Jenni also teaches music lessons on various folk instruments.

Kathy Wood – Dishwashing squabbles were quelled when Kathy's parents suggested that she and her older sister sing Girl Scout camp songs together to pass the time. After moving to Omaha, Nebraska in the late 1960s, she was introduced to the autoharp and much later learned guitar and old-time banjo. She and her husband, Jim, have been mainstays of the Omaha Folk Song Society for thirty-eight years and members of Great Plains Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association since its inception in 1976.

Jim Wood – A retired Professor of Chemistry at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, was influenced by his Mennonite bluegrass, banjo playing roommate in the 1960s. He was also a devotee of Judy Collins in her early club singing appearances in Denver, Colorado. Jim is the rock-solid foundation for the Rivertown String Band. His historical interests enrich our programs, and he is one fine jaw harp player.

Mindy Hunke – Mindy joined the group in 2007. She grew up with a steady diet of 1970s folk music from her parent's turntable. They were greatly surprised when she announced that she planned to play violin at age 10. Her efforts took her to Northwestern University as a music major. Looking to do something "fun", Mindy converted herself from a classical violinist to an adventure-loving fiddler in 2005 and has never regretted it, although she still happily teaches others how to play classical violin.

Go to rivertownstringband.com for more information.

Left to right: Jim Wood, Kathy Wood, Jenni Wallace, Mindy Hunke